Windows 11 dynamic wallpapers revealed

Details of the dynamic animated wallpapers developed by Microsoft for Windows 11 were shared by a former company designer. Sergey Kisselev exhibited these features, which he developed while working as a motion graphics and 3D design specialist at Microsoft, on the Behance platform. Dynamic wallpapers, which were planned to be available in 2023, now appear to have been cancelled, according to Kisselev.

Kisselev defines Windows 11’s dynamic wallpapers as a feature developed to highlight the operating system’s new central design approach. This feature is designed to highlight Windows 11’s centered Start Menu and taskbar. It is also considered as a solution for low-cost devices and especially education-oriented users.

Kisselev moved to Amazon in 2022 after working on Microsoft’s design team for more than eight years. In the project he shared on Behance, he stated that these designs were developed in line with Windows 11’s Fluent Design System. However, according to Windows Central, these dynamic wallpapers were planned to arrive with the 23H2 update in 2023, but were never implemented.

Windows 11 wallpapers were inspired by Xbox

This feature of Windows 11 was previously planned to be similar to the dynamic designs in the Xbox control panel. However, according to Windows tracker Albacore, this feature has been completely removed in the latest 24H2 update, after being included in its missing form in versions 22H2 and 23H2.

With the Windows DreamScene feature used during Windows Vista, it was possible to use videos as desktop backgrounds. Therefore, it is considered surprising that Microsoft did such a comprehensive design work and did not bring back dynamic wallpapers again.

Although Microsoft does not officially support it, users can access dynamic wallpapers with third-party applications. In particular, applications such as Wallpaper Engine stand out as a popular option for users who want to use animated backgrounds on Windows devices.

Although the reasons behind Microsoft abandoning this feature are not fully known, considering the company’s design-oriented approach and trial processes, it seems possible that similar innovations will appear in a different way in the future.